I'm sure my family and friends would be quick to tell you that me being speechless is a very rare sight. Still, that is what your lovely responses to the last chapter made me. I can't thank all of you enough. I hope I have managed to reply to all the reviews, but I would like to take a moment to thank all the guest reviewers for being as wonderful and supportive as they are.

As always, my deepest gratitude goes to Kouw for fighting through endless run-on sentences and inconsistencies to give this story its final touches. As my students would say: bestest beta in the world!


When Charles awoke the next morning, he was lying on his side facing his still sleeping wife. Despite what he had told her last night, he didn't have his arms around her but he didn't really mind. She lay considerably closer to him than she had in all the nights before, she was turned towards him and their hands were almost touching where they lay next to their faces. He had never really noticed before that their sleeping positions were almost identical. He took a moment to study her relaxed face, to take in the tiny wisps of hair that had come undone from her braid during the night.

Warmth infused him when he thought back to the last night, the first evening they had spent going to bed together.

After some awkward shuffling in the bed (and a lot of time spent separately in the bathroom to get ready, to brush their teeth and have a quick wash) they had finally managed to find a comfortable position. She had spooned against him and he had tentatively draped an arm around her middle – careful not to pull her too close, not to frighten her.

When she had put her hand on top of his, which had come to rest on her stomach, he had felt tears gathering in his eyes. He had quickly swallowed them, not wanting the tender moment to become overshadowed by melancholia and regret. She had squeezed his hand lovingly and after a few moments he had felt the tension leave her shoulders, her body sagging further into the mattress. Once he had been sure his body wouldn't betray him and the trust she placed in him, he had edged a little closer until her back had rested against his chest. With a contented sigh he had closed his eyes only to open them again when he had heard her whispered "I love you." He had pressed a reverent kiss to her shoulder, reciprocating the sentiment. Although he had meant to enjoy that lovely moment for a while longer, his exhausted body had whisked him off to dreamland as soon as he had closed his eyes again.

Waking next to her now and being able to watch her (because he didn't have to be afraid of what she might think when she woke up and caught him staring), filled him with an overwhelming joy he could not have anticipated. He knew that he should let her sleep because, unlike him, she didn't have to get up but he simply couldn't help himself.

He covered her hand with his and gently smoothed his thumb over the back of her hand. When her eyelids fluttered open, he brought her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to it.

"Good morning." Her voice was still thick with sleep and he couldn't help but smile at how endearing she looked right after waking up.

"Good morning," he rumbled in reply before pressing another kiss to the inside of her wrist. She closed her eyes at the unexpected gesture but the content smile on her lips reassured him that it was most definitely appreciated. "I'm sorry, I should have let you sleep," he apologized – although he didn't really feel sorry about enjoying this loving moment with her.

"It's alright, I can get up and make breakfast for you," she replied, but made no move to get out of bed.

"No, you should enjoy your little lie-in. I can manage on my own."

"Alright," she yawned, sleep already beckoning her again. She closed her eyes as he got out of bed but opened them again when he gently kissed her forehead.

"Maybe you could wait up for me tonight. I'd love for us to enjoy a sherry like in the old days." Her eyes clouded over briefly but then cleared again. "I think I should be able to manage that," she replied with a soft smile. He kissed her again – on the lips – before leaving the bedroom.


Forty-five minutes later Charles arrived at the Abbey, which was bustling with activity although the ceremony was still a few hours away. He oversaw the preparation of the Great Hall before heading back downstairs to make sure that the hallboys remembered in which way the family wanted the marquees to be positioned on the lawn. The weather forecast had promised a mix of sun and clouds for today but it was best to be prepared. Charles was always glad when the guests had the opportunity to venture outside – it gave everyone inside the Abbey a little more space to breathe even if the trips to the gardens meant longer ways for the servers.

As soon as he had arrived downstairs, he was stopped by a small middle aged man. "Excuse me, I'm looking for a Mrs. Carson." Charles raised his eyebrows in confusion before replying. "I'm Mr. Carson, may I be of help?"

"I'm bringing the flowers," the other man explained in a thick Cockney accent. Charles nodded and with a quick wave of his hand beckoned Anna to follow him outside. There they were met with two small lorries full of intricately arranged flowers of different varieties and colours.

"She really did it," Anna exclaimed in awe. She quickly went back inside, returning a moment later with two hallboys and three maids, carefully instructing them which flowers were to be brought inside and which needed to go to the church.

"Please sign here," the supplier unceremoniously pressed a form into Charles' hand. After Charles had placed his signature the other man began chuckling merrily. "That's quite the missus you have at home, Sir."

Charles tore his eyes away from watching the servants carrying the exotic flowers inside and focused his attention on the man in front of him. "What do you mean?"

"Asking for this kind o' flowers at the beginning of May for such a low price and on such short notice? Had my boss nearly in tears, she did." The other man still laughed to himself.

Charles wasn't sure how to reply to the praise for his wife. He silently agreed with the supplier's assessment of his Elsie, she truly was the best at what she did… what she had done. Charles felt the scales fall from his eyes as another tiny mosaic aligned in his head. He quickly instructed the supplier on how to find the church and sent the hallboys along with him before hurrying back inside.

He found both Anna and Mrs. Patmore in the kitchen, debating the best way to ensure that Lord Devonshire would only get the canapés that his wife had previously approved of.

"Could you spare me for half an hour? I'm afraid I've forgotten something very important at home."

If he had expected the two women to be confused by his cryptic words, he was sorely disappointed. Mrs. Patmore simply raised an eyebrow before replying. "We had wondered when you'd notice."

Charles felt his jaw drop briefly but he quickly regained his composure. He simply shook his head as both the cook and the Lady's maid tried to stifle a grin.


Elsie was in the middle of her second cup of tea, lost in thought as she recalled the whirlwind of emotions that had been the last night. She was startled out of her reverie by the front door being thrown open, prompting her to spill some of her tea over her dressing gown.

"Elsie?" her husband called loudly and she instantly stopped her efforts of cleaning her gown and rushed out to meet him in their living room.

"Charles, what on Earth are you doing here? What's happened?" she asked, putting a hand on his arm in concern over seeing him so flustered.

"Get dressed!" he ordered while trying to catch his breath.

"What?" she asked in confusion, beginning to worry that he was suffering a stroke.

"I said, get dressed. You'd better hurry, we don't have much time," he looked at her eagerly while she continued to gape at him.

"Whatever would I need to get dressed for so urgently?" she stammered. He took a step closer to her and put his hands on her waist, gazing at her intently.

"You should be there today. You've worked as hard as everyone else, you should get to see it," he explained with a patient smile.

"Why? Do you need an additional pair of hands?" she teased softly, still unsure what to make of her husband's behaviour.

"No, I need my wife to be there. I want you to be a part of today," he explained and the gentle conviction in his eyes nearly brought tears to her eyes. Instead of coming up with a witty reply to his revelation, she pushed herself up and kissed him square on the mouth before turning around with a mischievous smile and heading upstairs.


I hope you liked this little interlude. The talk will continue in the next chapter. I'd love it if you left another review and shared your thoughts with me!